Blue rose
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Since roses lack a gene to produce delphinidin, the primary plant pigment that produces true blue flowers, blue roses were traditionally created by dyeing white roses. So-called "blue roses" have been bred by conventional hybridization methods, but the results, such as "Blue Moon" are more accurately described as lilac in color. However, after 13 years of joint research by an Australian company Florigene, and Japanese company Suntory, a blue rose was created in 2004 using genetic engineering. The delphinidin gene was cloned from the petunia and inserted into a mauve-blend rose, the Old Garden Rose 'Cardinal de Richelieu.' (a Rosa gallica) However, since the pigment cyanidin was still present, the rose was more dark burgundy than true blue. Further work on the rose using RNAi technology to depreses the production of cyanidin produced a very dark mauve plant, with only trace amounts of cyanidin.
Blue roses traditionally signify mystery or attaining the impossible. They are believed to be able to grant the owner youth or grant wishes. This symbolism derives from the rose's meaning in the language of flowers common in Victorian times.
In Slavic mythology one may be granted wishes by bringing a blue rose to Baba Yaga. The Blue Rose was also a symbolist, impressionist influenced art movement in Tsarist Russia in the early 20th Century.
The Blue Rose, due to its mysterious nature, acts as a clue in David Lynch's Twin Peaks, Fire Walk With Me.
Blue Rose is also a fantasy role-playing game published in 2004 by Green Ronin Publishing, emulating the "romantic fantasy" fiction sub-genre.
Possibly the most famous reference to "blue roses" in literature is in the seventh scene of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, in which Jim realizes Laura is the same girl he had called "Blue Roses" in high school, since she had been out with pleurosis.
